Name: William E. WebsterPosition: Fellow, University of...

Name: William E. Webster

Position: Fellow, University of California Research Center in Fresno; photographer

My work is made up of four pieces, all involving travel: research, lecturing and consulting and free-lance photography. Imaging, along with playing the what-if game, has become absolutely essential to my planning.

As I prepare for a trip, I sit down and visualize in detail what I think will be taking place on the planned trip. I imagine giving the tickets to the airline folks and, if it is a trip overseas, showing my passport and, when appropriate, the International Yellow Fever Document. As I do this, I place these items in the coat I shall be wearing on the trip. I picture getting up in the morning to the sound of the travel alarm clock and I check to see that it is packed. I consider the climate . . . and I see myself putting on rain gear or an extra jacket or coat or gloves.

If the trip’s purpose is lecturing, I imagine each talk in detail, checking that each overhead projection image is packed along with notes and any other pertinent material. Or, if photography is involved, I think about each step with all the equipment.

After packing, I visualize carrying luggage without a cart, which is often not available in remote locations. I see myself loading my stuff on a bus and walking down a crowded aisle. This last exercise usually means repacking with a reduced load.

I also combine the what-if game with imaging to conjure up possible scenarios for which I should be prepared. What if I get sick or come down with a severe headache? I imagine losing tickets and passports, and this prompts a session of photocopying.

The elements of imaging are simple but crucial: concentration, solitude, constructing as nearly as you can the actual experiences you may have, playing the what-if game to create situations that might occur, visualizing in excruciating detail to ensure that nothing is left out, and repeated review as insurance.

Since I have been using this strategy, my trips are less stressful and better organized--thereby making the experience more positive and productive.

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